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Dohoney said a review team is examining the proposals with the following goals in mind:

1.To maximize the monetary value of the parking assets

2. To improve the value of the parking system over the term of the lease

3. To choose a partner with integrity and a track record of customer service

4. To choose a partner with the capacity and experience with the technical needs of the system.

Dohoney laid it on the line to his policy makers, telling them if the city decides to not lease some garages, surface lots and meters, another way of generating tens of millions of dollars would have to be found.

Dohoney says his plan would bring at minimum an upfront $40 million payment plus an annual leasing fee.

Critics have hammered at the idea, saying it relinquishes control and opens the door to spiking rates to a burdensome degree.

In a memo to council, Dohoney writes "No matter who runs the parking for the next 30 years, parking rates will increase. To think otherwise is not living with the reality of the market, inflation, and our budget. These are the factors that must be balanced. The city will be a part of any decision regarding rates."

Skeptics are not wavering. Referring to Morgan Stanley, one of the bidders, Councilman PG Sittenfeld tells News 5 "...their objective is to squeeze as much water out of the rock as possible and maximize profit."

Sittenfeld remains opposed to the deal because he believes it will result in sharply-higher rates, longer hours of enforcement, loss of free Sunday parking at meters and more tickets.

The nine respondents are Cincinnati Forward LLC, which has Banks of America Merrill Lynch backing, Duncan Solutions, First America, Green Courte Partners, Morgan Stanley, ParkCincy Team, which includes Guggenheim and Xerox, the Cincinnati Port Authority, The National Development Council and Vinci Concessions.

Citizens will get their first opportunity for public comment at City Hall starting at 6 p.m. Thursday.

Dohoney intends to break specific proposals from the deal to Council members so that they can decide what is open to negotiation and what is not. He anticipates a decision from policy makers in February.